For The Thanksgiving Table – Sweet Potato and Carrot Puree

Have you finalized your Thanksgiving menu yet? Or are you feeling the panic set in as you realize, you have less then two weeks to plan the biggest meal of the year? Whether you’re hosting the entire family or bringing a side to festivities at another home, we’ve got some yummy, time tested Thanksgiving recipes for you. Check in at we heart this as we count down to the big day with delicious recipes for popular and traditional Thanksgiving dishes guaranteed to delight the entire table.

For Green Monday, we’re starting with one of my very favorite Thanksgiving sides, a Sweet Potato and Carrot Purée adapted from the Silver Palate Cookbook. On a recent episode of Top Chef, guest judge Natalie Portman (an avid vegetarian) made the observation that often times vegetarians need to finagle a meal together without a main entrée by using a mixture of sides. While I totally agreed with her assessment (many times I’m disappointed at the slapped together sides equaling the veggie plate at top restaurants) I must admit, making a meal of the sides is my favorite thing about Thanksgiving!

And my plate would not be complete without a generous serving of the Sweet potato and Carrot Purée next to my mashed potatoes. This light as air puree brings the necessary Sweet Potato to your Thanksgiving table without the overwhelming sweetness found in many yam and sweet potato recipes. There’s no marshmallows; a no-no for vegetarians (they contain gelatin) in this dish either.

Don’t worry; the recipe is still decadent and luscious, perfect for a true Thanksgiving feast. This version from cooks.com, made famous with the publishing of 1982’s The Silver Palate Cookbook, has the perfect blend of fall spices and a rich, full feeling thanks to the creme fraiche. Weight watchers could swap out the crème fraiche for yogurt, but we say it’s a special day – add as much fat and calories as possible!

1. Scrub potatoes and cut a small, deep slit in top of each. Set on centered rack of 375 degree preheated oven. Bake 1 hour or until tender.

2. Peel carrots and cut into 1-inch lengths. Put them in a saucepan with water, sugar 2T butter, and salt and pepper to taste.

3. Set over medium heat, bring to a boil, and cook uncovered until water has evaporated and carrots begin to sizzle in the butter (about 30 minutes). The carrots should be tender. If not, add additional water and cook until carrots are done and water has evaporated.

4. Scrape out the flesh of the sweet potatoes and combine with the carrots in the bowl of a food processor.

5. Add remaining butter and creme fraiche and process until smooth.

6. Add nutmeg, cayenne, if desired and salt and pepper to taste.

7. Transfer to an ovenproof serving dish and cover with foil. Cook in a preheated 350°F oven for 25 minutes, until hot.

A note on crème fraiche: You can buy this French favorite that’s similar to sour cream (it’s soured cream with at least 25% butterfat) in the “fine foods” section of many grocery stores, as well as some Trader Joe’s. Additionally, you can make your own by using heavy cream and sour cream. Scroll to the bottom of the cooks.com Sweet Potato and Carrot Puree for instructions.

Tyna, a co-founder of wht, worries about becoming a crazy cat lady, reads at least a book a week, checks in at a Flyers fan forum every morning and is forever (some say obsessively) organizing her closets and drawers.skin tone: NW 20/25skin type: combinationfavorite beauty product: eye shadows and lip balms

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Comments

My kids would love this. I buy something similar that’s made fresh at my fancy grocery, but it’s super pricey. I always feel bad paying $7 for a small tub of veggie puree that would cost much less to make. Maybe I’ll be a good mom and try making this over the holidays. Thanks for the recipe!

The Silver Palate is one of my all-time favorite cookbooks! I go to it over and over. This recipe is widely regarded as one of it’s best. It is so delicious. I still remember the first time T and I tried it at a Thanksgiving party that was, my god, like 10 years ago. We took one bite and hounded our friend (the chef) till we she made a photocopy of it for us. It is so rich and incredible. Seriously, with 12 tablespoons of butter, how could it not be?! This is one of my favorite sides. Mmm, c’mon next Thursday!
.-= stef´s last blog ..Kiehl’s Rare Earth Pore Minimizing collection =-.

Ha – we were relentless in getting our hands on the recipe! And for the next 10 years, either Stef or I make this for the Thanksgiving feast. I always hated the too sweet marshmallow dishes of my youth – this was the first time I realized how yummy sweet potatoes and yams could be. Oh, and this puree reheats very nicely in the microwave as well – perfect for leftovers.

I have to get Mel over here – this is the recipe I thought would be perfect to make with her Babycook!
.-= Tyna Werner´s last blog ..RGB nail color – review =-.

YUM!!! Carrots, Sweet Potatoes, with a dash of Cayenne… sign me up! You made this last year right? I have foggy memories.. my bonnet was too tight :) Everything last year was sooooo delicious, I think I remember eating this!!

I thought this sounded familiar when I first read it! I also thought that I’m definitely going to try it this year – sounds delicious and not too hard. Even the hub said “yum” when I read the ingredients. Don’t know about making it in the Babycook though, either,as far as size and cooking differences go (baking and stovetop). Will leave my thoughts about that on the Babycook post…

I made it and it was delicious and BEAUTIFUL on the plate! Such a pretty color of deep and bright orange. I (and everyone else) loved how light and slightly sweet it was, but not overwhelming. I don’t have a big processor, so it wasn’t easy – had to do it in 4 or 5 separate batches in my little processor (pulled out the baby cook and tried it in there, but couldn’t get just the blender part to turn on without steaming first – either that or I had it set up wrong). Anyways, even after not blending how it should’ve been altogether, it still turned out great! Thanks for sharing!!